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AllTrac wrote:she setting herself up nice, when she is no longer the PM she still would be living large, and charging a hefty amount with the SILK. Cant blame her, since when politicians cared about the people and their country? is dog eat dog out dey and we have no one but ourselves to blame. Not voting next elections, ill tell you that.
Manning spends $1m on 32 foreign trips
RICHARD LORD
Published: 28 Oct 2009
Prime Minister Patrick Manning has spent in excess of $1million on 32 foreign trips between January 2007 and March 31 this year.
This was revealed by Finance Minister Karen Nunez-Tesheira in a written response to a question on yesterday’s Senate Order Paper. The cost of the trips related to airfare, advanced allowances and hotel accommodation. The question was asked by Opposition Senator Wade Mark. More than $1million was spent on trips to countries including Ethiopia, the US, Jamaica, Venezuela, Cuba, Uganda, Mexico, the UK, Brazil, Spain, Nicaragua, Germany and the United Arab Emirates.
Manning’s visit to Ethiopia, Tanzania and Jamaica, from January 27, 2007 to February 7, 2007, cost $201,638.55. He went to Ethiopia to take part in an Ethiopian summit from January 29 to 30; paid an official visit to Tanzania from February 1 to 3 and took part in a joint meeting of the Prime Ministerial Sub-Committee on the CSME and external trade negotiations in Jamaica from February 5 to 6.
Manning’s visit to Uganda from November 20 to 27, 2008 for the last Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) from November 23 to 25, cost the state more than $174,000. In excess of $600,000 was used by Energy Minister Conrad Enill during the same period, the answer revealed. Minister in the Office of the Prime Minister Dr Lenny Saith spent more than $720,000 and Nunez-Tesheira, over the period March 2008 to March, this year, spent more than $368,000 in overseas travel. Tourism Minister Joseph Ross spent over $366,000 in foreign travel for the period March 2008 to March 2009.
http://test.guardian.co.tt/index.php?q= ... ips&page=1
Habit7 wrote:Seeing that we spend $10 million of our own money on trip, plus the business people who paid their way, plus the Indian gov't who helped out because it is a state visit, why didn't we just charter a B777 or A330. I think it might have been cheaper, and the PM would have looked so elegant as a female world leader descending the stairs from such a regal aircraft, much like other great world leaders.
Habit7 wrote:Yeah but why should we give BA and Air India the money when we could spend the money on a direct flight in total luxury.
I think I heard this idea before, but run with me...
Seeing that the PM needs to travel with her entourage to market and reintroduce the country to leading economies, why don't we seek to acquire a private aircraft. It can be bought, operated and maintained by CAL and be used by the PM and other government officials to provide smooth, efficient and luxurious travel that would help the PM seal up deals with investors. Plus it would make the country look professional and modern.
When the PM is not using the aircraft, it could be available to any VIP locally or regionally to charter so that it can be an income earner. This would stop capital flight and keep the capital within the country. Think about it.
Habit7 wrote:I just hope in the future, if we ever have a PM that is a descendant from the Moon colony, that they won't want to go with an entourage to receive awards, touch feet, seek out roots and relax by searching out business. I just perceive we might not be able to afford that trip.
I WILL ACCOUNT
Kamla promises full report on India trip
By Carla Bridglal carla.bridglal@trinidadexpress.com
Story Created: Jan 15, 2012 at 10:50 PM ECT
Story Updated: Jan 15, 2012 at 10:50 PM ECT
A full report on the Prime Minister's state visit to India will soon be submitted to Parliament.
Kamla Persad-Bissessar said she would account for the mission and achievements of the visit, as well as the cost and the number of people who participated as members of the Trinidad and Tobago delegation.
"Each time we travel, we have reported and indicated what we will do, and on our return, we have been accounting to the people through Parliament and media briefings.
"When Parliament sits, we will continue with good governance measures to report to you all," said Persad-Bissessar, speaking at a media conference in the VIP Lounge at Piarco International Airport on her return to Trinidad yesterday evening.
She said she did not know exactly how many people were part of the mission because she did not see everyone, but added that the report will be put together and submitted as soon as the Ministers of Foreign Affairs and Trade and Industry returned.
Persad-Bissessar was scheduled to return to Trinidad at 4.30 p.m. on a British Airways flight out of London, via St Lucia, but arrived at 5.45 p.m. Some Cabinet members had taken an alternative route through New York and had not yet arrived.
Persad-Bissessar gave an overview of the achievements of the trip, which, she said, included 200 meetings, the signing of 50 memoranda of understanding and 50 joint trade meeting.
Defending the duration of the 12-day trip, she said much of the time was spent in travel, with four days allotted for flight time alone.
Persad-Bissessar also made a statement on the widely debated Senior Counsel issue, saying the green paper suggested by the Attorney General should shed some light on the way forward.
She added that she "respected" the decision of Chief Justice Ivor Archie and Justice of Appeal Wendell Kangaloo to return their instruments. "Some of the commentators are very learned gentlemen of the legal profession who indicated they felt it was a conflict of interest for these judges to have accepted it. The judges took a decision and we respect that decision. But as far as I am advised—and I am advised because I wasn't here—there are only two persons calling for the removal of the silk, the Opposition leader and Ramesh Lawrence Maharaj, SC.
"But it is most interesting that many of the people who are making the most noise gave themselves silk in the first place and there was no noise. What is even more important is that should you take that route, then it means that every person who received silk under those criteria for the past 50 years, are you then saying they should all give it back? And I think the answer to that is no," she said.
She responded to the Opposition leader's allegations of the Commissioner of Police being too involved with the Government, saying there was nothing further from the truth.
Persad-Bissessar was critical of Keith Rowley's statements, and had harsh words for the previous administration's handling of the crime situation, accusing Rowley of "mischief".
"The (PNM) has absolutely no authority to speak on (these) matters. They have interfered in every single way with the Police Service.
"In answer to the mischief being created by (Rowley), my answer is what you're doing is each time you speak is condemning the very administration to which you belong," she said.
